Torque-regulating mechanism.



PATENTED 11111.21; 190s.

B. THOMSON.

TORQUE REGULA'IING MEGHANISM.

-APPLIUATIOH FILED 001.17, 1901. 2 sums snm 2 v lip-1 I Y Httgfm' TUFL- Bnmmhmsod Where Cil Cli

iiivrriin rafriiivi?I onirica,

EQiHU THOMSON, OF SWAMlBSGOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A. GORORATION Olf NEW YORK.

TORGEUE -RE GULTING ME CHANISM.

no. sialic/s,

Specification of Letters tatent.l

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

'.Lo alt lztltom 'it may concern: i

Be it known that l, ELiHU THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain nei-vend useful Improvements in Torque-Regulating Mechanism., of which the following is a speciication. A When an automobile is called upon to climb a grade, or to go over a heavy road, fi. e., one which is sandy, muddy or rutty, it is necessary in order to maintain any reasonable speed to increase the torque of the motive power agency. This has been accomplished heretofore by means ot' suitable gearing, and also by increasing the torque of the engine by admitting more steam thereto. ln

both of these instances amental and manual effort is required on the art of the o erator'. caring is emp oyed to eilect the changes 1n torque, additional gears and levers must be employed which. require attention to keep them in repair, and they also add comlication to the vehicle. When the system is so arranged that more steam is admitted to the engine, there is danger of drawing too much steam and unduly reducing the ternperature of the boiler'.

The object ofrny invention is to provide av torque-regulating apparatus which is so arranged that it will act automatically to vary the torque of' the engine or other motive device in accordance with the character of the route traveled over.

ln carrying out my invention, the regulation is indirect, that is to say, it operates onthe boiler. l mayarranne the system so that` the amount of fuel supplied to, or consumed by, the burner is varied, or l may regulate both the supply of fuel to the burner and water to the generator, as desired. Between the engine or motor and the driving wheel or wheels is located a device which is capable of assuming different )ositioiis as the power necessary to propel t e vehicle varies. This device in turn controls the delivery of the -fuel or fuel and Water, so that the load changes, the position oi the regulating nischanism automatically changes and varies the admission of iuel and water'.

' "W ith a' given opening of the main throttle, the average steam `Aressure exerted on the piston or pistons for liigh s i eed running is less than that for low speed, tA ereiore the torque oi the engine 'fore given admission of steam will increase slightly as the speed drops, and

it is upon this change in torque that the operation ot the apparatus depends. In other words, the change in torque yand speed of the engine automatically changes the amount of Yfuel or the aiuiunts oi `fuel and Water supplied to meet the new conditions.

The scope ot my invention will be more fully set -forth and claimed hereinafter.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a partial plan view ci' s. vehicle; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section of a power-transmitting mechanism; Fig. 3 is a sectional 'View talien on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a Vvlan of a powertransmitting mechanism; 'Pig'. 5 is an' end view thereof; liig. 6 is an elevation oit a slight moditication wherein the effective strokes of the fuel and water pumps are varied; and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating a torque-regulating system wherein the actuating mechanism is controlled by the sprocket-chain.

Referring to Fig. 1, l represents an engine oit any improved pattern; in the present in- ,s'tance a tour-cylinder single-acting engine is illustrated. The steam for the engine is supplied by the renerator 2 which is heated by the burner 3 i lustrated in dotted lines. The rear axle is made in two parts i and 5, and motion is transmitted thereto `fronti the engine by the sprocket-chain 6 and the diiierential gears 7. Between the differential gears and the rear driving sprocket S is arranged a spring, which will he more fully described hereinafter. Mounted on the ends of Athe driving shaft or axle are driving wheels 9, of any suitable character. ing axle is a tramo 10 that is prevented from rotating by a trarne-bai' il, w iich'extends to the forward axle or other support. The body oi the vel'iicle 'i2- is indicated in dotted lines, as are also the water-tank i3 and the 'fueltanlr 14;. or boiler from the tank i3 by the pipe l5, and fuel is supplied to 'the burner from the tank le by the pipe lot The admission of water and fuel regulated by the valves i? and i8, which .valves may be supported from the under side of the boiler-casing or at any other convenient point. These valves are so adjusted with respect to each other that theyA admit water and "fuel in proportionate, or substantially proportionate, amounts. ln the present instance the boiler 2 .is ot the ilash Sleeved on the driv- Water is supplied to the generator' the throttle-valve 19, and the exhaust leaves the engine by the pipe 20.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, 4 and 5 represent the two parts of the driving-shaft or rear axle. The a'djacent ends oi the shafts are provided with bevelgears 21 and 22. Surrounding these gears is a casing 23 which carries the pinions 24, the

latter being arranged to mesh with the bevelgears 21 and 22. The adjacent ends of the driving shaft or axle are somewhat reduced in section, and sleeved thereon is the rotatable support 25, in which the inner ends of the pinion-supporting shafts 26 are seated, the outer ends ol these shafts being supported in the casing 23. The periphery ofthe casing is turned true, and may constitute the drum et The casing 23 is provided side, and with a long sleeve or hub 27 on the right-hand side, both of which hubs are loose on the axle. Mounted on the right-hand end of the hub 27 and retained against indepen dent rotation by a spline 3() is a sleeve 3l that is capable of lateral motion. This sleeve is provided with a peripheral groove, in which is seated the split ring 32. The ring is provided with two radially extending pins 33, with which the slotted arms of the bell-crank lever 34 engage. The hub 27 et tlv gearcasing is also .surrounded by the hub 28 of' the rear sprocket-wheel. 8. This' hub is free to turn, independent ol" the casing 23 and its hub 27, Within certain limits. The hub 28 ot the sprocket-wheel is enlarged to form. a box, and mounted in this box is a spiralspring. The outer end of the spring is rigidly secured to the sprocket 8, while the inner end is rigidly attached to the hub 27 of thecasing 23. The arrangement of this spring is such that the sprocket-Wheel 3 can be rotated forward or backward. lt is essential that some form of spring connection or its equivalent be employed between the sprocket and the gearcasing 23, but the particular kind oi spring employed may be varied to suit given conditions.

ln cases Where the vehicle is intended for service on roads which are more or less rough, it may be found desirable to provide some sort of a resistance device, such as a dash-pot, for example, to check the independent movements of the gear-casing or support 23 and the sprocket The end face of the sprocketwheel-hub 28 is beveled or cut, at 36, to form a cain, and engaging with this surface is a second cam-surface 37 formed en the lefthand end of' the sleeve 3l.. Formed integral with the sleeve is a projection. 3S, which is al'meeting ends of the hub 28 and the sleeve 3l,

and depended upon them to measure or indicate the changes in torque, it is evident that other devices may be employed to accomplish the same purpose, and l aim to cover such devices in the claims. g

The cam-surfaces 36 and 37 are normally held in engagement by the spring 40 (Fig. l), one end ol which is secured to the belllcrank lever 34, while the other end is secured to a g bracket formed on the frame-piece l0. When the spring 35 in the sprocket hub is strained beyond a certain point, the sprocketwheel tends to rotate independently or' the sleeve 3l, and this independent rotation forces the sleeve laterally along the spline 30. As the sleeve is displaced laterally, the position oi' the bell-crank lever 34 is changed, and one end of the lever engaging with the valvestems moves in a manner to open the valves and permit more fuel, or lue] and water as the case may be, to enter the burner and boiler. W hen 'the mechanism is not inaction the water and 'oil-valves would bc practically closed, the oil-valve being open su'lliciently to admit enough luel to the. burner to keep the parts het. My improved. apparatus 'may he used to regulate the entire admission of luel to the. burner and water to the boiler, or

it may be used in conjunction with other regulating devices. lVhere a pilot-Haine is eniployed to keep the parts het, the fuel-valve 1S may be arrangel to close entirely when theparts are at rest, shown in l ln Fig. (i is shown a slight modification of the system where, instead ol controlling` the admission ol' fuel anl water through valves, the apparatus is arranged to vary the eilective stroke of the l'uel and .water-pumps. -l represents a water-pump, which is connected to the suction-pipe 4G and the delivery-pipe 47 in the ordinary manner. The end of the pump piston-rod is provided with a crosshead 48, that travels in suitable guides. To this cross-head is secured a connecting-rod 49, which rod is also attached to the adjustable block 50 in the link. 5l. Situated below thcwater-pump is a 1fuel-pump The pis-- ton for this pump is rigidly connected te the piston of the water-pump, and moves in. uni-- son therewith. Fewer for driving the pumps is obtained from an eccentric 53, that is mounted on the driving axle which eccoli--` tric has a deli nite stroke, and is pivotally ecn-- nected to the slotted link. iii. rihe bell-crank lever 34: is connected at one end. to the laterally-movin g sleeve 3l, in the saine manner as betere. The other end is connected to the sliding blo 50 by the i' d arm 34.

1 Y the position of the sleev lfnneraliy i dueto the rotation of the sprocket-Wheel 8independent of it, the osition of the block 50 is changed. When t e block is in the lower end of the link, the strokes of the pistons are 5 at the maximum, and when it is at the upper end, they are at the minimum. The spring 4() tends at all times to reduce the stroke of the pump by moving the sliding block 50 up ward.4 1n this figure itis assumed that the resistance to the rotation of the driving wheels is somewhat above norma-l, and that',A in consequence thereof the lug- 39.-*on the s rocket-wheel has moved, as indicated" by tiie arrow, through an angle ofabout 90 degrees toward the 'lug 38 on the sleeve 31. In other words, the sleeve 31 has been' moved vlaterally along. the hub 27 of the gear-case and caused -the bell-crank lever 34 to move the block 50 downward and increase the effective strokes ofthe` water and oil-pumps. The fueland waterfpumps are so adjusted with respect to each. other -that they will l supply'the proper port-ion of fuelto the burner andwater to the boiler underchangesbf load. .In other words, suiI'icient fuel is suplied at all times to vaporizethe4 water deivery tothev generator. Steam taken from the generator 2 may be admitted to .the .en-

`ne, which in turn is connected to-the drivlng axle that carries the 'eccentric 53; and since the eccentric is driven at a speed proportionate or at least bearing a .fixed relation "to that of the driving power, theeflects just mentioned will 'be largely .independentof the .s ed regulation by throttle, and will take p ace almost solelyin accordance with the v-torque or turning force developedi The action ,of my invention is as follows: Assuming that 'steam from the boiler or generator'is delivered through a definite opening of the throttle-valve, it will-be evident that if the engine'is running at ahigh speed, the

average steam pressure exerted upon the istons will beless than if itis rumung ata o w speed., In, other words, the ltorque or turning4 force will, with a given ressure and adjustment of the throttleva ve, .be eater if the speed falls slightly,A such as wou d be the cas'ebnfre'aching a grade -in the path traveled '50"over, or 1n reaching a section of the road which is heavy', t. e., sandy rutty or muddy. This increased torqueof lt e-engine strains the spiral spring 35 to a greater or less degree, :and produces a relative rotation between, the

. -s rocket-wheel 8 and the splined sleeve 3'1. e latter, .as it moves laterally away from the path of the sprocket-chain, acts on the fuel and Water systems in a manner to vary the deliveries, either. by changing Al'the admission at the valves orby changing the effective' strokes of the pumps.' Conversely, if the strain on the spring 35 1s relieved, as when' the vehicle reaches a smooth level road the spring willuncoil or return .to its normal po- Asltionand the parts more nearly assumethe.

position illustrata in rigs. 1 and 4, ma the sup ly of water and fuel .is decreased ac cor in ly'. -If the vehicle is traveling down a gra e s`o that vthe sprocket-wheel and sleeve 32 are-permitted to assume the osition shown in Figs. 1v and 4, the su'pp y of 'water and fuel will .be cut down to a minimum; or if theparts beso desi ned the de li ery of fuel'and water throng i the valves 17 and 18 may be eut off entirely. The sprockets, cha in and differential gears act to transmit mot-ion from' the englne' to the wheels in the ordinary manner.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, I haveiillustrated a I chain-drive between the engine Land the rear sprocket 8 whichchain is employed to ei'ectf the regulation. Bearin upon o' osite sidesof the chain .6 are ro 1ers 455 w ich are mounted in a frame 56, that is` in turn supported between the extension-'springs 57, the atter being attached st their outer ends to suitable supports. ted, asat 58, and working in this slot is a pin 59 that is connectedto a bar. 60, a guide 61l beingeml lcyed to maintain the proper're lation of t e parts.

The frame 56 is slot-H The motion ofthe frame 56 up or down will so actuate the bar 60 as to l .cause it to move back and forth. If the di'` rection of the drive is such that the chain 6 i move to the extreme ri ht; If, on the other hand, the direction of t e drive is such that upper spring 5.7 becomes stretched While the lower spring -1s released, and the rod 60 is moved to the right, as in the previous figures. In either case, when the torqueexerted by the drivin element is at the maximum the rod 60 will e moved to its extreme rightfhand "position, and! any intermediate application ,of power will cause. the rod toassume an intermediate osition. It is to be understood that the ro 60 acts upon'some suitable con'- trolling meeha'nismysuch as the valves 1 7 an d 18, orfthe sliding. block 50 of Fig. 6.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principleI of operation of my inventionftogether with the aplparatus which I now consider to lrepresent t e best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the appa-' ratus shown is bnly illustrative and that the invention can be carried out b other'means.

What I claim as' new and dlesire to secure by Letters late'nt of the United States, is'

1. In combination, an; energy-producing device, a prime -xlnover receiving energy therefrom, a' shaft, a drivingjconnection between the prime mover and the shaft which includes a lost-motion device, and a means the lower part of the chain is" tight, as m- Fig. 9,' thisv condition is reversed, and the varying the later.

the device which changes its position in accordance with changes in position of the lost-motion device.

2.- In combination, a vapor generator, a fire chamber, an engine, andv a means controlling the production ofvapor by the generator which means is regulated-in its action by the torque developed'by thev engine.

3. In combination,'a vapor generator, a fire chamber, an engine,- a means controlling the admission ofy li uid to the generator, a

means controlling t e-admission of fuel to" the ire chamber, and mechanism which is dependent in its action upon the torque -developed by theengi'ne for actuating both of said means.

4. In combination, a source of energy, al

motor, adriven element, a driving connection between the motor and the element, a spring, which is included in the connection,

and a device which is'under the control of the spring and is responsive. to .variations in the torque of the motor for regulating the source of energy. A

`5. combination', a steamgenerator, .an engine, a ,drivenwheeL a-drivmg connection between the enginefand the wheelha spring which forms a artof the'driving connection, and means un er the control ofthe spring for energy produced 'by the gener- 6. In combination, an engine, a steam generator, a driving gear, a' driven wheel, a spring connection between the gear and the wheel whereby ya. limited independent movement is provided for between themv and means acted uponby the spring connection for varying the amount of energy produced by the generator. l

7. Incombination, a source of energv, a motor, a driving ear and a driven wheel `having a certain 'mited amount of independent movement, and a means actuatedA y the gear during theinterval that the independent movement is taking place for automaticall increasing the amount of energy produced by the source thereof.

' 8l In combination," a source of'ener'gy, a motor, a torque regulating device, a driving gear, a cam connected to the gear, a sleeve acted 'upon by the cam, and a lever operated by the sleeve for varying the amount of energ produced by said source in accordance wit changes in torque o f the motor.

9. In combination, a generator, an engine, a driven wheel, a year mountedconcentrically with the sha, ofi the driven wheel, a

sleeve mounted on the sameshaft and capaengine, water and; fuel supplies, means lfor g regulating the admission of Water to the boiler and fuel-to the burner, and a device acted upon by changes in torque of the engine for varyin the position of said means for regulating't. e amount of water and fuel 70 delivered to the boiler and burner.

11. In combination, a boiler, a burner, an engine, sources of water and uel supply, a throttle-valve, valves for regulating the admission of fuel to the burner and water to the gboiler, a driven element, a connection between. the engine and the element containing' a certain amount of lost motion, and means under the controlv of the connection l for va the action of said valves. go

12, n combination, a boiler, a burner, an engine, sources of water and. uel supply, water vand fuel pumps, a driven whee a `spring connection between the -engine and t e wheel whereby a certain amount of'lost motion is provided, and a means under the ,control of the s u ring connection for varying the eii'ective de iveries of the pumps.

13. In combination, a source of energy, a motor, a driven shaft, gears mounted thereon, la casing surrounding the gears and provided with a pinion meshing therewith, a hub, formed on the casing, a gear-wheel sleeved on the hub, a spring connection between the gear-Wheel and the hub, a sleeve the hub of Athe support, cam faces on the gear and sleeve arranged to impart lateral movement to the sleeve, a lever, and means actuated thereby to regulate the supply of energy produced by the source thereof. r

15. In combination, a source of energy, a motor, a divided shaft driven thereby a system of differential gearing between the parts of the shaft, a support which carries a part of the system, a gear which is loosely mounted on the hub of the support, a spring 115 connection between the gear and support, a piece which is moved by the gear when the spring Ais laced under more than apredetermine( stress, a bell-crank lever attached at one end to the piece and movable therewith, and a means which is actuated by the other end ofthe lever for regulating the supply of' energy produced by the source thereof.

16. In combination, a boiler, a burner, an

lost-motion connection, and a means actuated by the lever for varying 4the stroke of l, the pump.

17. In combination, an engine,I a shaft' driven thereby, a pump, a driving 'connection between the shaft and the pum piston, and means actuated by the engine or' varying the effective stroke of the ump.

18. In combination, a bo' er, a burner, fuel' and water umps for supplying Waterto the boiler and el to the burner, an engine, and a regulator controlled by the engine for controlling the effective deliveries of the which yields in response to changes in torque pumps.

19. In combination, an energy-producing device, a prime .mover receiving energy therefrom, a driven means connected to the prime mover,.and a device acted upon by sie duoing device and the'prime mover being relatively fixed iny combination. with Ineens .for regulating the 'energy produced bythe device, and a regulator which is `dependent in its action'upon the torque developed by receiving vapor rom the generator, a load i driven by the engine, a powertransmitting meansl vconnected to the engine, a device interposed between the means and the load developed by the engine, anda means con trolled by said device for regulating the vaptpr produced by the generator.

witness whereof, i have hereunto setmy hand, this 12th day of Getober, iQOi. L

ELIHU THOMSN.

Witnesses:

DUGALD MCK. MCKILLOP, JOHN A. MoMANUs. 

